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FOG ENDS 2013 NMRA-TQ MIDGET SERIES - By Tim Kennedy
Santa Maria, CA., Oct. 26 (Delayed by NMRA website problems) -
Heavy fog ended the 2013 NMRA-TQ Midget racing season prematurely on October 26 at Santa Maria Speedway during event 13 of the season. With 11 TQ-midgets present, Chuck West, of Clovis, set the fastest qualifying time at 16.388.
TQ teams completed a pair of eight-lap heat races won by drivers starting from the inside of row three. West, driving the West Evans Motor-sports No. 38 Stealth/Bob Wirth Suzuki, won the first heat in a six car field. Britt Grissom, Don Kiefer, Scott Niven, rookie Doug Arnold and Bruce Hiroshima followed.
Anthony Lopiccolo, aboard his father Paul's Rick Stewart chassis with a 750cc Honda providing power, took heat two. Scott Dobson, Kenny Wiley, West Evans and Dave Lambert finished second through fifth respectively. All drivers completed eight laps in both heats.
The 11 car main event field ran approximately 15 yellow flag laps hoping the fog would lift. The race was green for two laps. Then it was red-flagged for safety reasons because the starter could not see the back-straight. Points were totaled only through the heat races and final 2013 NMRA point standing show West Evans winning the drivers championship for the second time and the car owner championship for the sixth time.
NMRA officials are currently working to finalize 2013 awards banquet arrangements. Some NMRA teams will race as usual in the annual non-point demonstration event during the Monster Jam for monster trucks during January at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
FINAL NMRA -TQ MIDGET DRIVER POINTS:
1 West Evans 711
2 Chuck West 668
3 Kenny Wiley 653
4 Don Kiefer 607
5 Anthony Lopiccolo 490
6 Britt Grissom 451
7 Dave Lambert 425
8 Scott Niven 303
9 Mike Black 298
10 Chris Thomas 233
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